I recently finished up an 8-Week Virtual Bootcamp with some very motivated and very successful entrepreneurs and business owners who were determined to take their business to the next level using video!  To finish up the Bootcamp, I ended with a recap on what we learned and shared what I believe are the 7 most-important Principles for success with Online Video.  The following two videos are the exact recordings from that members-only webinar, enjoy!

Note:  The visuals are boring, treat this like an audio and listen while taking notes!

The 7 Video Marketing Success Principles (Part 1)

Principle #1: There is no Such Thing as Video Marketing!

Stop thinking of “Video Marketing” as this separate entity that is optional for your business.  Video is an effective form of communication that needs to be integrated into each and every aspect of your existing marketing efforts.

Skip to Principle #1 Now: http://youtu.be/fZLr4RzQUl0?t=1m38s

Principle #2: Stop Focusing on the WHAT!

If you want to actually see results with your videos, you’ll need to swim past the “Sea of Overwhelm” as fast possible.  Don’t let the details of which camera equipment, software, and export features hold you back!  Focus on the HOW!  Focus on your Video Strategy!

Skip to Principle #2 Now: http://youtu.be/fZLr4RzQUl0?t=4m13s

Principle #3: Let Go & Outsource!

You can’t do it all yourself.  It’s the cold harsh truth: Outsourcing/Delegating/Systems-Building is an absolute REQUIREMENT.  Here’s a stellar, eye-opening Outsourcing Training Webinar that’s gonna blow your mind: http://www2.onlinemeetingnow.com/register/?id=a6395e36ff

Skip to Principle #3 Now: http://youtu.be/fZLr4RzQUl0?t=5m14s

Principles #4: Your Content is ALWAYS #1!

When we stop getting hung up on the technology, (the “What’s”) we begin to focus on the most important aspect of our videos: the CONTENT! What is your message?  It is clear & concise? What value does it provide?  Your message will ALWAYS trump everything else!

Skip to Principle #4 Now: http://youtu.be/fZLr4RzQUl0?t=6m13s

The 7 Video Marketing Success Principles (Part 2)

Principle #5: Video is the Window to Your Brand!

Video is the most transparent medium for communication of you, your message and your brand.  80% of communication is non-verbal, and video becomes an effective way for getting your audience to effortlessly get to know, like and trust you.

Skip to Principle #5 Now: http://youtu.be/fZLr4RzQUl0?t=1m38s

Principle #6: Consistency Breeds Momentum!

Stop with the “One-and-Done” mentality.  Just like anything else in life, results with video marketing can take time.  Make sure their is consistency in your efforts.  Focus on the long-term, big picture strategy and you will see momentum.

Skip to Principle #6 Now: http://youtu.be/fZLr4RzQUl0?t=4m13s

Principle #7: Every Video Must Have an Intention

No one hands out Girl Scout Badges for “Video-Making.”  Their is no Bank that will let you cash in your views for money.  Each and every one of your videos needs to have a specific intention.  Are you selling something?  Are you getting people to opt-in?  Do you have a call-to-action?!  If you don’t have a strategy first, there’s no reason to make a single video!

Skip to Principle #7 Now: http://youtu.be/fZLr4RzQUl0?t=5m14s

 In Conclusion…

I used to paint a lot back in my high school and college days.  Although what I produce is usually pretty horrific, I always enjoyed looking at that blank white, empty canvas knowing that I could turn this into anything.  I approach video the same way.  There are infinite possibilities for results with video.  To limit one and say this is the only way to do it, or it must follow this template or that formula is just too dangerous.  Instead, I encourage you to think outside the box, incorporate your “Right-Brain Marketing” ideas and make something magical!  Those above Seven Principles will keep you on the right track as you produce Remarkable Videos of Value for your business!

The “Daily Deal” industry has taken the Internet by storm!  In just a few short years, Groupon.com has grown to over 50 Million daily subscribers while hundreds of similar Daily Deal site pop up every day and still see incredible success!  The irony is that these “Daily Deal” sites have experienced massive success at the height of time when everyone has been complaining about SPAM, Email Overload and junk mail!  Yet to this day, Groupon alone has saved it’s customers over $110 million!

But isn’t Groupon just another “spammer” sending you product offer after product offer with no other intention than to sell you something?  Why do these websites continue to grow and leave subscribers eager for their next daily email?

The answer is “SENSE of URGENCY”

There is something magical that happens when you implement a Sense of Urgency into your marketing.  These Daily Deal sites present you with a highly-desired item and an incredibly discounted rate (providing high value to the end user), but only for a limited time/quantity.  No matter how great the deal is, if we all knew it would be around forever, most of us would never act!

Think about that…

People take action when they know that time (or supply) is running out!  If you have ever run an eCommerce shop or sold anything online in an Online Store, have you ever used the Sense of Urgency Principle?!  Most items just sit there on their “virtual shelves” collecting dust and giving people no real reason to purchase.  Heck!  It’s the reason eBay was so successful (back in the day!).  The Countdown Auction-Style format gave people a Sense of Urgency!  “If I don’t bid now, I may never see this again and someone else will win!”

How to Cash in on The “Daily Deal” Phenomenon:

My good friend (and brilliant marketer!) Hollis Carter has been literally entrenched in the Daily Deal industry for a few years now.  And our most recent conversation got me so excited about what has been working on (and what I’m gonna be doing this year!) that we decided to host a very, VERY Special LIVE Webinar discussing the In’s and Out’s of the Daily Deal Industry and how YOU can implement these strategies in your business and take advantage of this phenomenon!

This Jaw-Dropping presentation is gonna knock your socks off!

==================================
What: How the “Daily Deal” Industry Will Effect Your Business
When: This Wednesday (1/25) @ 4pm PST (4pm est)
Where: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/881224489
=======================================

**Click Here to REGISTER for the Webinar NOW**

A Video-Preview of WEDNESDAY’s WEBINAR

**Click Here to REGISTER for the Webinar NOW**

Frustrated that your Social Media and Online Marketing Efforts are not working? Look, there are always new tactics, strategies (shiny red balls) popping up to keep us distracted. Unfortunately this causes most to go into information overload. “I tried it and it doesn’t work” quickly sets in, and we move onto the next “latest & greatest” opportunity without finishing what we’ve already set out to accomplish. (If this is you, and you feel bad, don’t worry, it happens to me all the time!!)

Here is a quick video to remind you about the Power of Consistency

It’s a quite simple concept, but most never do it. Social Media is free-which means everyone can do it…which means there tends to be a lot of noise from others. Those that see results are those who are CONSISTENT and DEDICATED. You need a strategy, you need systems to implement your strategy, but most importantly, you need to take action CONSISTENTLY if you want to see results.

And the best part is…

When you are consistent in your actions, your results compound and you’ll see exponential growth! I like to say…

CONSISTENCY Creates MOMENTUM!

Instead of throwing a bunch of $h%t against the wall to see what actually sticks, focus on two or three powerful methods of marketing, and use them consistently. Don’t use Youtube/Video Marketing if you don’t plan on creating more than one video. Don’t own a blog if you never plan on having more than one post that says “Hello World!” Don’t even register Social Networking sites if you’ll never get past 2 friends, one update and the default profile picture.

“Less is More” could never be more true! Concentrate on doing LESS with more focus, determination and consistency!

Ok, enough ranting, I have to get back to figuring out what my next 20 weeks worth of blog content will be!

Time management is a waste of time!

Priority Management is NOT!  (And trust me, Video Marketing IS a priority!)

In this “brief” post, I’ll reveal my best tips for helping jump-start your Video Marketing & Youtube Marketing Campaign so you can become a lean, mean, Video-Producing Machine!

Here are the facts: Video DOES take time!  It takes 7 seconds to write a tweet or update your Facebook Status, and it can take 15 minutes to 15 days (let’s hope not!) to create a Youtube video.  But here’s my first question for you…

Where do your tweets go?  Where does your FB Update end up?  Social Media Heaven?  (We can only wish there is such a place!)

Ya, but no…you see, as they get buried down at the bottom of a never-ending timeline of relevant and time-sensitive “posts,” your old updates seem to dissapear and never provide any future value for you or your business.  They are quickly created, yet quickly forgotten.

NOT the case with your Youtube Videos!

In fact, it’s just the opposite!  The older your video, the more “senority” or “klout” it receives as views, comments, ratings, backlinks, embeds (ok, you get the idea) begin to add up.  I have videos that are four years old that get ranked at the top of google & Youtube and produce results for me to this very day!  So…why does this matter?!

Well…even though I am going to help you SPEED UP your video-making efforts, I’m also here to help you realize that the effort you put into creating your video can pay off for years to come!  The seemingly “harder” work on the front end, WILL pay off in the long run!  It’s time to see the forest through the Video-Trees!!

Here is a quick list of the SEVEN things you can do to become an EFFICIENT MACHINE with your videos:

1. Proper Planning

Boring!!  Planning sucks, right?!  Not when you want to save time, money and frustration from mistakes!  The most crucial step is to properly plan your video campaign.  Stop “hap-haphazardly” making your videos when you are “in the mood!” Take some time to write down a detailed SHOT LIST!  Identify the keyword phrases and the burning questions that your audience is asking and turn those into video topics.  Create a “series,” a theme or a “story” that transcends beyond a singular video (this gets people to stay tuned for your next episode).  Take a moment to look a the BIG PICTURE STRATEGY of what your ENTIRE Video Marketing Campaign will do for you and your audience…not just an individual video!

2. Make Your Videos Shorter!

What are you doing to yourself?!  10 minute videos are long, boring, take forever to edit/export and no one watches them.  Stop all the redundant rambling and practice on providing succinct, content-dense value in less than 3-4 minutes time.  Heck, do a 45 second video!  It’s Nano-Content and people will looove you for it.

3. Film 10 Videos at a Time

Pull out your calendar and block off a day JUST for filming!  Take your shot list and film as many videos as you can (10 seems to be the magic number, but 11 gets you extra credit in my book) in a single session.  Multi-tasking DOESN’T WORK if you are trying to be EFFICIENT.  Focus on ONE task until completion and you’ll get it done much faster.  Plus, after video two or three, you’ll notice that you are much more “warmed up” and begin to make videos with less mess-ups, takes, and re-do’s!  <—That saves you time!!

4.  Re-Purpose Intros/Outros

Why do the SAME thing MORE than once?  Take a lesson from Henry Ford’s assembly line process and turn your video editing into a Factory!  Create a “universal” video intro (should include your logo & music in 3-5 seconds) and plop that on the front of all of your videos!  Do the same with an “Outro Video Bumper” or “Call-to-Action video.  …Huh?  Still have questions, watch the video below…

5. Use “Effortless” Cameras & Editing Software

Stop sabotaging yourself!  If it’s too hard and too complicated, you won’t ever enjoy it!  Use a camera and editing platform that is simple, intuitive and effortless.  I film more than half of my videos on my iPhone and edit them in Screenflow (for Mac).  It’s simple, exports fast and saves a ton of time!  I also recommend using “Screencast Videos” for quicker content-creation.  Since the camera isn’t on you, you can give your makeup artist and hair stylist the day off!  <—Hey that stuff takes time too!

6. Create Systems

This is the BIG one!  …And five bucks says you ain’t doin’ it! Why?!  Because systems ain’t sexy!  But systems are what REAL Businesses are made off! What is a system?  In essence, a Business System is a “machine” that requires a specific “input” and then delivers a specific, predicted “output.” It’s a set of steps or instructions that eliminate human guesswork and efficiently get you from point A to Point B as effortlessly as possible.

Every video idea that gets written down on your Shot List must go through the SAME, efficient process until it is ultimately uploaded and broadcast on Youtube.com getting ranked and being viewed by the World.  The more YOU can eliminate yourself from this process and plug something (or someone) into the equation, the better.  And that brings us to our most magical Time-Saving Secret…

7. Outsource it!

Unless you’ve been living under a rock that doesn’t get Internet Access, than you know OUTSOURCING is real, it’s easy to do, and it’s making it possible for the bootstrapped entrepreneur and small business owner to compete with the big boys and SUCCEED!  My business completely changed overnight when I make the decision to finally “let go” and build a loyal team of outsourcers.  Stop doing the tasks that drain your energy and rob your time and re-claim your spot as the CEO of your business!

If you are new to outsourcing, or maybe your skeptical about how it’s done, and if you can afford it, then attendance at my UPCOMING webinar is absolutely essential!

This Tuesday, I will be hosting a LIVE training webinar revealing four years of outsourcing and growing my business efficiently and effectively without burning out, getting frustrated and wanting to quit!

Tuesday’s LIVE Outsourcing Webinar

What: The Secrets to Outsourcing Your Business for $2/hour
Who: Your Host James Wedmore
When: THIS Tuesday (Jan 10th) @ 5pm PST (8pm EST)
Where: http://www.jameswedmore.com/oswebinar

It’s 2012.  If you think you’re gonna have less to learn and do to grow, you’re wrong.  Information Overload is a  REAL problem.  Outsourcing IS the cure.

CLICK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT.

Ah, Christmas!  It’s a magical time of year for family, tradition and gift-giving!  And with an estimated $465.5 Billion spent (in November & December) on holiday gifts this past year, Christmas also serves as a significant barometer for the economy and the success of retail companies everywhere.  Although sales were predicted to increase over 2% from 2010, not every store experienced growth.  One retail outlet in particular…

Sears.

While listening to the radio this morning, I heard this statement,

“There’s no reason to go to Sears.”

That’s not exactly the kind of statement any retailer wants to hear, right?  Especially when it comes from retail analyst Brian Sozzi, who also commented that  “It (Sears) offers a depressing shopping experience and uncompetitive prices.” OUCH! This is what Sozzi and many others are pointing to as the reason why Sears Holdings Corp announced today its decision to close anywhere from 100-120 stores this year.

It’s strange don’t you think?  Here’s a company with roots that go back to 1888, built upon a reputation for offering quality products, competitive prices and priding itself on consumer satisfaction.  Sears grew as a direct result of their willingness to innovate and adapt to mail order catalog sales.  Yet some might conclude that it’s impossible for a company to last over a century and still see growth!

But what about Macy’s?  Here’s a store which dates itself back to 1850, yet I’m sure at least a few of the boxes or bags under your Christmas tree were purchased from this retail giant!

So what can we learn from all of this?

Lesson #1 Don’t Forget to Take Care of the Goose

I’m sure all of us remember “The Goose that Laid the Golden Egg?”  It’s a classic story about a poor husband and wife that find themselves owning a goose that lays a golden egg each day.  They figure that there must be a stockpile of gold inside of the goose, so they decide to kill it and open it up in order to retrieve all the gold at once.  Unfortunately, they end up discovering that there was no gold inside of their goose.  This action completely cut them off from their daily gold supply.

What does this have to do with the 120-stores-less Sears?  

Simple, Sears forgot to take care of the Goose! Unknown to most was the desire of Sears’ leadership to operate more as a hedge fund than a retailer.  This focus diverted a substantial amount of funds that would have gone into things like renovation and advertising, but instead were placed into non-retail investments.  Slowly but surely, this golden goose began to starve as it was being neglected.

There really is no such thing as a “sure thing” is there?  Creating a business and brand is not like cooking with a crock pot where you can “set it and forget it.”  It requires continual vision, objectives and supervision – which actually goes for anything in life.  Anything of value in life requires that we do NOT take it for granted and give it the proper care it deserves. I thought I’d make a list of a few other things that can benefit from this principal: Health, relationships, our top clients, retirement accounts, gardens…and of course your Businesses!!

Lesson #2 Name your Goose

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t remember the goose having a name in this bed time story.  I’ve just always known the goose to be called “The Goose that laid the golden eggs.”  The point I’m trying to make here is that both this goose and Sears did not have an identity.  Sure the goose laid eggs of gold, but who was this goose? Apparently there was no connection, who knows, he (or she) might have lived longer if it was named – just a thought.

The same goes for Sears.  Who is Sears?  What makes them stand out?  When I think of Walmart I think of a wide variety of products at extremely low prices.  When I think of Target I think of quality clothing, toys, electronics and even food.  But what do I think of when I hear Sears?  Hmm.. I think of tires and screwdrivers.  Not exactly the kind of place I want to browse around, in fact I can’t even remember the last time I’ve been into a Sears.

Now here’s the thing, I’m sure I’m wrong.  I’m sure Sears has a lot more than tires and screwdrivers to offer, but how would I know?  Why waste my time on a store that has not taken the time, money and vision to give me a clear picture of their identity?  I and millions of others don’t have time to waste on a No Identity retail store.

The same goes for you and your goose (aka your business).  Do you have an identity?  If I were to survey 10 of your past clients/customers would there be a common theme to way they would describe your position in the market place?

Lesson #3: Remember the Customer Experience

Sears also neglected to improve upon the Customer Experience. In fact, while Macy’s spent $505 million to improve it’s stores & those of Bloomingdale’s last year, Sears only spent $441 million, despite having more than three times as many stores.  Analyst Gary Balter was even quoted as saying, “Sears is effectively asking customers to pay for a poorer shopping environment.”

Ironically, the numbers are showing a dramatic increase in online shopping this year.  It was estimated that 90% of consumers used the Internet is some way to research, review or purchase gifts this holiday season.  58% of Smart Phone users admitted to visiting “offline” retail stores to survey products before finding better deals online.  Did Sears give people a reason to visit their store this year?  I guess not!

Even if your business is 100% virtual, the experience you deliver for your customer needs to be nothing short of remarkable.  How can you make doing business with you more fun, enjoyable, effortless and exciting?

That’s all I’ve got to say on my end, but I’d love to hear your feedback about what lessons you think we learn from this as well as why you personally think the Sears brand lacks identity…or does it?  Let’s get a conversation going.

Youtube Changes are a Thumbs Down!

At the beginning of December, Youtube announced their biggest changes and began rolling them out to users.  …and a mob of virtual rioters quickly ensued!

On December 1st, Youtube uploaded a video enthusiastically announcing and demonstrating their newest updates, and it was met with more “thumbs down” & negative feedback than a Rebecca Black music video (sorry Rebecca!)

Youtube has a strong community of “Youtube Superstars,” Content Creators & avid fans who absolutely detest these new changes!  WHY?!  Probably because most people fear change!  As a marketers & business owner however, you have no reason to resist this most-recent makeover.  In this post, I will go over the most significant changes to Youtube’s interface, and show you how to benefit from these changes going into the new year.

No need to sweat over the little things or run around thinking the Sky is Falling just because Youtube looks a little different.  I’ll show you exactly what you need to focus on, & what you can completely ignore.

The +90 Min Youtube Makeover Webinar

Last week I did a +90 minute training webinar for members of Video Traffic Academy showing everyone how to profit from Youtube’s latest changes going into the new year.  IF you are one of our +3,600 members of Video Traffic Academy, you can access this webinar below (password protected)

(Note: This webinar is only available for VTA Members Only.  To join Video Traffic Academy, click here)

The New Youtube Home Page

The New Youtube Home Page

One of the most significant changes that you’ll quickly notice is Youtube’s new look on their Home Page.  As you may notice, it bares an uncanny resemblance to Facebook’s Live Feed function.  The latest content & activity from your “subscribers” will now show up right at the top of your Youtube Home Page.  This is an effort to move Youtube into more of a “socially relevant” networking site.  Youtube’s intuitive nature will deliver more-relevant content to you the end user with the hopes of providing a better experience for Youtube Viewers.  This new feature frustrating some of the big Youtube Partners, because the “most-popular” & “trending” videos are no longer predominately displayed on the home page.

Stumbling upon a completely random, funny video that is quickly going viral will be much harder as Youtube attempts to deliver you more relevant content based on who you subscribe to and what videos you “like” & share.

How to Leverage this Change:

Inside Video Traffic Academy, a lot of the strategies we teach come from a foundation in “Video SEO.” By identifying the proper keywords & keyword phrases for your market, you can effectively get your videos ranked at the top of Youtube & Google’s search result pages. Youtube’s new Subscription Feed function will all you as the content creator to benefit from your existing social reach.  Now more than ever, getting your “Sphere of Influence” to subscribe, like, comment & share your videos will produce compounding effects that get your videos more exposure.

Your efforts for Youtube in 2012 should include:

1.  Get more Subscribers! 
Incentivize your viewers to become subscribers with strong “Call-to-action’s!”  Tell them HOW to become a subscriber and WHY they need to!

2. Get More Interaction!
Using annotations, your video’s content and your description’s copy, urge your viewers to take action on your videos.  The more users “like,” comment & share your videos, the more exposure your video will get from your subscribers’ audience.  So much more potential for viral-nicity!  (made up word? perhaps!)

3.  Be More Consistent!
As Youtube attempts to blur the line separating offline television with online entertainment, it would be highly advantageous to begin behaving more like a weekly sitcom.  Be consistent in your uploading and your efforts.  Visit Youtube daily-even if it’s for a few minutes.  Interact on other channels & videos and respond to comments left by your audience.  The more consistent your efforts become, the more you’ll stay relevant in the feed of your subscribers!

 The New Youtube Channel Page

Youtube has also performed a major overhaul on your specific Channel page.  How your videos are displayed, removing “channel views” and eliminating “friends” from the equation, Youtube is in the process of transforming their site from a “Video-Centric” community to a “Channel-Centric” one.  There are a bunch of little changes that you can quickly notice here, and I’ll let you play Sherlock Holmes as you discover some of these changes for yourself.

What I would rather do is give you a quick action list and show you want you NEED to do to make sure your Channel is properly optimized for future use! Ready?

Your Channel Page Action Items:

1. New Background Image
If you had a customized background image before the change took place, you may need to re-upload your existing background image or go ahead and have a new one created.  The new channel layout calls for a simple image with your name, logo and information on the far left hand side of the channel page.

2. Edit Your Channel Details
You’ll also want to make sure that all of your channel details are filled out correctly.  Please check the image below for more info…

Edit Your Channel Settings

3. Activate the “Blogger” Template
There are a few different templates to choose from when setting up your Featured Tab.  Personally I recommend the “blogger” template.

Choose the "Blogger" Theme for Best Results!

4. Edit Your “Featured Video”
Similiar to the old channel design, you’ll want to have a featured video that autoplays when people view your channel.  You can choose from any of your past videos or select the option to use your most recent video (recommended).

Don't forget to Showcase a Featured Video!

5. Add Your Links
The new channel design makes it fairly easy to add website, blog & profile links to drive traffic to your web properties.  Make sure to take the time to add and edit this information!

The New Youtube Analytics:

My personal favorite change to Youtube’s most-recent overhaul has been their introduction to Youtube Analytics.  Previously called Youtube Insight, this extremely detailed & informative feature allows you learn more about your audience, your videos and your activity on Youtube.  Each statistic tells a story and with proper deduction skills, you can effectively improve your videos and your actions to improve your results.

Most of the features in Youtube Analytics have remained the same, however there are two features that I would like to call special attention to:

1. Audience Retention
Previously labeled as “Hotspots,” this improved function allows you to see just how engaging (or un-engaging!) your videos really are.  Identify the exact moments that are causing your viewers to run for the hills or perform a “digital-double-take,” rewind your video and beg for more!  Want to see more results with your videos, this function tells you exactly what you need to do!

2. Playback Locations
This new function allows you to see exactly where your videos are being watched.  As Mobile devices become more predominant in our lives, you’ll notice a greater percentage of playback locations coming from “mobile.”  This feature will also allow you to see exactly who is embedding your videos and which blogs/websites are giving you views!  Find out what is working and you can do more of the same!

The NEW Youtube Analytics

Is that it James?

No, it’s not it!  Youtube has introduced a few new features, functions and design changes in the past month or so, but the three major ones to pay attention to are the ones I mentioned above (The Youtube Home Page, Channel Page & Analytics).  Youtube has changed their design with a new look and feel that is much cleaner and modern.  Youtube appears to be phasing out the “friends” (temporarily labeled “contacts”).  The section where you can edit and tweak your videos is now called the “Video Manager.”  And a few months ago Youtube even added a web-based editing platform to edit, trim and improve your existing Youtube videos.

There are plenty of little design changes like this hidden all over Youtube, however none of these smaller changes call for you to change your video marketing strategy.  Other than the three major changes I listed above, you won’t need to worry about any new action-items at the moment.

To make sure you get the absolute most out of your Video Marketing Strategy in 2012, I’d like to close this post with a few of my personal predictions for Youtube & Online Video in the new year…

2012 Video Marketing Predictions:

It is very apparent that Youtube has some big visions for the future.  As they change their look, invest in over 100 Original Content Creators, Youtube is focusing their efforts on blurring the line that separates offline television with online entertainment.  In short, Youtube wants to become television.  Whether or not this will happen is not relevant just yet.  Here is what we can predict for the future of online video…

1.  The Bar will be Raised

This is the biggest prediction I can warn others about.  As video becomes more integrated into every aspect of your online marketing strategy, you’ll notice that the quality of video (both the visual quality and the quality of the content) will continue to improve.  This will result in higher expectations from users.  Are the days of shaky flip cams over?  Perhaps not yet, but the most aggressive marketers will be using High Definition Digital SLR Cameras with crystal clear quality and highly engaging and entertaining content.  So, the questions becomes, will you?

2.  The Little Guy Goes Viral

As Youtube changes it’s interface to become more like a Social Networking site, they are providing a user experience that delivers extremely relevant content.  In the past, the cute baby or dancing cat videos hit the Home Page of Youtube and they became insanely viral with millions of views.  Well, what about the rest of us?  What if our videos don’t capture some hilariously awkward moment on tape?  My prediction is that the marketers who have the most reach and pull can effectively influence their subscribers to spread their video content to more people thus allowing for a “mini-viral video” effect for relevant parties!  This is a very good thing for us as business owners!

2012 IS upon us!  This is my favorite time of year  (not just because of the gift-giving & wonderful holiday parties!), but because I take the time to reflect on what is working in my business and what is not working (are you doing that?).  Here is some insight into that to help you prepare for 2012…

In 2009 I made the decision to join a $12,000 Mastermind group.  I’ll never forget the feeling of seeing $1,000 debited from my account that very first month.  I remember thinking “I don’t know how I’m going to do this, but I’m going to find a way!!”  It wasn’t like I had a high-paying job or a padded savings account.   I was barely making ends meet selling info products full time online, so an ADDITIONAL $1,000 per month was a HUGE commitment.

So why did I join the group?

My decision to join this mastermind was based upon my belief that in order to succeed, I must first surround myself with like-minded people.  Not just people who are “positive” or “encouraging,” but people who are 100% committed to growing their business – people who care about your success just as much (if not more!) than theirs!

Let me ask you this:

How much commitment does it take to purchase a $47 or $97 product online?  

Not very much!  Especially since there’s always a money back guarantee right?  It’s easy to read a sales letter or watch a video and get pumped up to “take action” and purchase a course to help grow your business…..but what happens once you’ve made that purchase and the hype is gone?

Now, just imagine you were being billed $1,000 per month and had to travel across the country every few months (on your own dime!) to meet with other smart, committed people.  Do you think you’d easily forget about that commitment?  Probably NOT!

So how can you benefit from my participation in $12K mastermind group?

The quickest way to answer this is to look for a similar opportunity for yourself!

Find Support for 2012:

Well maybe you’re not ready for high-ticket coaching & accountability, (but honestly, when will you ever really be ready?!) but what’s stopping you from finding like-minded people in your own area and starting a group that meets once a month? Everyone can contribute to the cost of renting a small room for the day where each person is given a specific amount of time to present their business and goals for the upcoming month.

The point is, you’ve got to connect with others who are on the same journey as you.  It’s not enough to simply write your goals down and proclaim them to your family and friends – you’ve got become entrenched in a community.  The road you’re on is truly the road less traveled, but there are others out there, on the very same road you’re on – going through the very same things that you are right at this moment!

I’m 100% confident that if you attempt to continue on this road alone, you’ll fail.  It doesn’t matter how committed you may feel right now – there’s going to come a time when you’ll be emotionally or financially “spent” (or possibly even both).  It’s in those moments you’ll need the support and insight of others who are on the same journey.

Another positive aspect is that you’ll be able to leverage each others’ time and talents.  Just think of all the new things you learned this past month, there’s a dozen more people in your city or town who are also learning their own lessons too.  Wouldn’t there be a huge benefit in sharing that with each other?  Not to mention the networking potential it provides too!

Set Your Goals for 2012

Last year, I wrote a blog post sharing the annual ritual I perform to end my year properly and set my goals for the following year.  You can access that blog post here.  In that blog post, I outline four questions that I highly recommend you ask yourself BEFORE this year comes to a close:

1.  What were your BIGGEST Accomplishments of 2011?

2.  What lessons have you learned from those accomplishments?

3.  What were your BIGGEST Disappointments of 2011?

4.  What lessons have you learned from those Disappointments?

*This is a GREAT exercise to write down and look at again in 365 days!

The Power of Relationships!

Craig Ballantyne

So going back to my mastermind group, there were a lot of incredible individuals I met that have helped me tremendously, but I’d like to tell you about someone in particular.  I met him during one of our sessions, a guest expert named Craig Ballantyne.  For some of you that name will be quite familiar – especially since Craig is now the editor of Early to Rise, one of the most successful and respected newsletters online (www.earlytorise.com). Keep in mind this is in ADDITION to running his 7-figure fitness business he started from scratch in 1998. (Not bad, eh?)

Craig is one of the most knowledgeable, disciplined and strategic entrepreneurs I’ve ever met.  Those attributes alone are more than enough to create success in any industry, but what really sets Craig apart is that he over-delivers on his content.  His free reports alone rival any $1,000 course being offered online today… I’m constantly amazed at how much he gives for free.

Below is a link to a video he’s recently released.  Not only is it filled with great content, but at the end of the video is a very unique offer.  I’ve already taken advantage of it myself and as always – Craig over delivers!  I highly recommend you watch the video.
Remember, community is key.  You’re not alone. Watch the video here

Note: This is ALSO an incredible example of a highly engaging video!  Look for more types of these “doodle-videos” in 6 months or so!  They are very fun to watch and very effective in keeping the audience’s attention!

Help! “Youtube Terminated My Account!” (Is this You?!)

For anyone who has used Youtube to build their online brand, create a better relationship with their followers and drive more targeted traffic to their website, you can only image the horror they would experience, if they woke up to their Youtube account terminated…

Youtube Account Termination Notice!

Scott Colby

This is EXACTLY what happened to one of our Video Traffic Academy members just a few short weeks ago.  His name is Scott Colby, he is a Fitness Guru and Abs Expert who uses his videos to teach workout and exercise tips that help shed that unwanted belly fat and get you in great shape!  Considering that he had been using Youtube for a few a years and has over 200 videos that total to over 1.5 Million Views, he was devastated when Youtube gave him the boot!  Not only was his channel gone, but the views, the traffic, even any videos he had embedded on his blog were suddenly non-existent!

This story does have a happy ending, and Scott was able to retrieve his account in just a few short days (more on that in a moment), but this is a serious issue, and innocent victims are being eliminated from Youtube’s database daily.  Individuals like Scott are good, honest people providing real, valuable content to the Youtube Community, so what happened?  Why did this happen?  …and more importantly, could it happen to you?

Account Termination Prevention:

The serious issue at hand is that anyone’s account is at the mercy of being terminated at the moment.  Yes, this means that your account could be next. (yikes!)  The good news is there are a few steps we can all take to play within Youtube’s rules and increase our chances of remaining active.  Although it is impossible to know exactly why Youtube is terminating & suspending so many accounts, nor is possible to know what criteria they look at to judge who is deemed “safe” or not, there are some clues that allow us to draw a few conclusions.

Youtube Terminated Account

It is safe to assume that Youtube is performing a bit of a “house-cleaning,” because there is a lot of junk out there.  With over 40 hours of footage uploaded every single minute, Youtube knows that a lot of this content comes from the Spammers & Scammers looking for quick traffic & easy affiliate money.  None of this stuff adds any real value to the community. As Youtube continues to evolve and play a major role on how mainstream media is distributed online (more on that in another article!), it would only be nature that they begin to “get rid of the crap.”

With this in mind, here are a few tips for  Preventing Youtube Account Termination:

1. Create “Videos of Value!”
If you are using Youtube to promote your business, then videos will highly reflect your personal brand.  You don’t want any content on your channel that is “spammy” or simply reeks of low-quality affiliate offers.  If your mother (or a high-paying client!) were to watch all of your videos, would they be proud of you, or dissapointed? Focus on giving value to your audience first and you’ll be aligned with Youtube’s rules & regulations! This is the easiest advice to give, but for some seems challenging to follow.  Are your videos all providing value?!

2. Watch for the Trigger Words!
One theory is that a few of these booted-accounts that are undeserving of termination have some similarities among them.  One of these similiarities refers to certain keyword phrases that automatically trigger a red flag such as “Make Money Online!” Ironically, in my interview with Scott Colby, he believes his account was terminated due to the use of a keyword phrase he used: “One Weird Trick.”  For those familiar with the fitness industry, that phrase has been over-used to sell and promote Scammy Acai-Berry Offers and other get-skinny-quick offers time and time again.  Could this be the source of Scott’s termination, no one will ever know!  But avoiding keyword phrases that could peak suspicion levels from Youtube would be very advantageous!

3. No Fake-Views or Fake Friends!
The magic word here is “Organic!” There are plenty of services that exist that will “ping” your videos again and again giving you plenty of fake views that don’t do anything but give you higher stats.  There are a LOT of factors to getting your videos viewed and buying fake views from a robot is NOT one of them.  So not only do these services not work or produce you any real results, they may also be another reason for Account Termination.  Avoid at all costs!  It’s simply not worth it.

4.   No Copyrighted Content!
This is another serious issue that Youtube Users are running into!  Avoid using any copyrighted material at all costs.  This includes music, video, pictures, etc.  Once you find a few resources for “safe” content, you won’t have to worry too much about this one.  I use iMovie’s Royalty Free Music Collection (comes with iMovie!) as well as Pond5.com for my music selections. (There are plenty of “royalty free music” resources available to you, just Google it!) Make sure your content is yours and 100% original-it’s just not worth the risk!

Gideon Shalwick’s Youtube Prevention Strategies

Gideon is a good friend and brilliant marketer!  And he recently created a GREAT video outlining some of the similiar content above as well as a few other strategies in a video.  I have posted it below for reference…

*Gideon also posted a blog post on Youtube Termination Prevention Here!

Youtube Account Redemption Action Guide

Everyone in the Video Traffic Academy Private Group was holding their breathe waiting to see if Scott would get his account back, and it was the biggest relief when he did!  So, that’s the good news! It IS possible to get your account back if you feel it has been wrongfully terminated.  Below is an extensive interview I did with Scott as he shares with us the exact steps he took to get his account back online!

Scott Colby’s Step-by-Step Account Re-Activation Process

Here are the exact steps that Scott took to get his account back…

1. Contact Youtube
As soon as Scott discovered his account had been terminated, he was given a link to a form that could be filled out on Youtube.  Although Scott admits that this first step had little (if any) effect on getting his account re-instated, he started by asking politely for more feedback as to why his account was deleted.  This is a great place to start, but don’t stop here…

2. Write an Open Letter to Youtube
Scott’s second step was to wrtie “An Open Letter to Youtube” asking for an explanation for why his account had been wrongly terminated.  The key here is to keep the letter friendly and kind.  Do not bad-mouth or discriminate against Youtube.  Upon posting this letter, prove to Youtube that you have a following and share this post to everyone in your Spehere of Influence AND request that they all leave comments!  Here is the exact post that Scott wrote on his blog: http://theabsexpert.com/blog/dear-youtube-why-did-you-dump-me-an-open-letter-to-youtube/

3. Write & Publish a Press Release
The third &  most-powerful step in Scott’s strategy was to write a “newsworthy” press release and get it syndicated on PRWeb.com  Scott went for one of the more expensive packages so his press release would be seen by more eyeballs.  Then he shared the press release with his fans and followers.  Seven hours later his account was back!  Here is the link to the press release Scott wrote: http://www.prweb.com/releases/youtube/bansfitnessaccount/prweb8931939.htm

4. Show Gratitude!
After Scott got his account back, he promptly wrote a blog post & created a video expressing his thanks to Youtube and his followers for all their support!  This is a simple yet extremely important step! …so don’t forget it! 

Final Thoughts…

Getting your Youtube Account Terminated is NOT fun! Do not risk this ever happening to you.  Follow our prevention-guidelines above to make sure you stay in alignment with Youtube’s true wishes for content-producers.  And if your account has already been terminated, follow the same steps as Scott did above and hope for the best!  If you have kept a backup of all your videos, at the very least you can start a new channel and begin re-uploading your videos.

I hope this post was of value to every Youtube User-not just those who have had their accounts terminated.

Nothing compelled me more this morning that Groupon’s Daily Deal from Omaha Steaks!  Omaha Steaks Rocks, and they had a killer deal for a Steak-Package that would be impossible for anyone to pass up!  This short article is a fascinating study in Human Psychology, What We Value, What We Buy and WHY we Buy…the numbers are all right there in plain sight if you are ready to look…

The Scenario:

Omaha Steaks' Daily Deal

Groupon’s Daily Deal was an Omaha Steak Gift Pack for just $45

Upon choosing “BUY!” to take Groupon on their deal, they present you with a Pop-Up Window to offer you two additional Omaha Choices (see image).

Choice One: Joyful Gift Pack ($108 value) PRICE: $45

Choice Two: Tastes of the Season Gift Pack ($202 Value) PRICE: $75

Choice Three: Holidays at Home Gift Pack ($212 Value) PRICE $90

Which one will you BUY?

The RESULT:

As you can see from attached image, the “estimated” numbers of who bought what were as followed…

Choice One: Joyful Gift Pack ($108 value) PRICE: $45 (Over 840 Bought!)

Choice Two: Tastes of the Season Gift Pack ($202 Value) PRICE: $75 (Over 1,000 Bought!)

Choice Three: Holidays at Home Gift Pack ($212 Value) PRICE $90 (Over 200 Bought!)

The Analysis

It’s very fascinating to have actual “Real-Time” results from REAL Products and REAL Customers, so when I saw this I went nuts!  But what does it all mean?  Let’s take a closer look at some of the items at play here…

The Upsell:

The Principle of “Commitment & Consistency” tells us that when us humanoids agree to something through our words or through our actions, we do their best to align ourselves with those actions and remain consistent with them. In other words, by clicking the “BUY!” button on Groupon to get the $5 package, I have committed to buy!  To back out of that commitment would be inconsistent with my actions.  Groupon & Omaha (and smart marketers!) know this, so we were immediately presented with an upsell-I mean “a choice.”

I could get the lower-end package for $45, or I could upgrade.  Once someone commits to investing with you at a lower price, it is far easier to get them to spend more with you.  Hence the Middle Package (Choice #2) has MORE sales than the cheap $45 Package (Choice #1).    But riddle me this Batman: It’s obvious that “some people” would take the Choice #2 & Choice #3 upsell, but WHY does Choice #2 win with the most purchases?  WHY?!

To answer that, we have to dive into a little bit of Behavioral Economics and something called “Price Relativity.”

Price Relativity:

This whole concept stems from the fact that we as “humanoids” don’t really know the true value of something.  …we don’t until we compare it to something else (relativity!).  Let me ask you a question:

Is $1,000 a lot of money?

It is for a pack of M&M’s (the first thing that popped into my head!)

It’s not for a brand new Ocean-Front Home in Southern California.

So, let’s go deeper with this…if you are shopping for cars, let’s say you find a make & model you really like.  The price is $20,000.  That number is arbitrary until you start comparing it to other cars.  ex: “This other car is nice too, but it doesn’t have four wheel drive or heated seats.  And it’s also $20,000.  I’m going with Car #1 Bob!”

Ok, so once we understand the concept of Price Relativity, we can really look at why Omaha’s Choice #2 is the clear winner here!  The customer did not look at the price at all, they looked at the VALUE they were getting and the VALUE they were saving!  Omaha created (probably out of thin air!) what the “value” was for each of their offers, and clearly showed the customer how much they were saving

I Get the Most with Choice #2!

Choice #2 wins with the highest in savings with $127 (That’s 63% off-yes 5% more than the other two options)  Hmmm…so the one with the BIGGEST savings wins, huh? What a coincidence!  People LOVE to feel like the got a great deal, and Choice #2 was presented as the best deal! Here’s the cool part…

1,000 people upgraded from $45 to $75.  That’s an additional $30,000 in sales!! <—-And BOOM goes the dynamite!

What About Lonely Choice #3?

Poor little guy.  Choice #3 is really expensive!  $90! That’s quick a jump from $45 (double!) If you have paid attention this far, you know that Choice #3 is the big loser, because it failed to offer as much “value savings” as Choice #2.  So…shouldn’t Omaha & Groupon just remove this third choice so they can focus more on Choice #2?  Answer: Nooooooo!! Omaha wants your decision to be easy, not complicated!

Choice #3 plays a very specific role!  You see, with three options at our disposal, Choice #3 serves the exact purpose of helping customers see that the middle choice (Choice #2) is an absolute NO-BRAINER!

A high-end $90 price tag helps to show that $45 and $75 is actually a REALLY good deal.  “Wow!  Omaha sells $90 packages, if I get one at $45 or $75 I am getting a steal!”

Sure people will buy the $90 option (200 people did!), but the savings is intentionally not as much as our fearless Choice #2 Winner!  But without Choice #3 here to “take one for the team,” customers would have more difficulty seeing the value in Choice #2, and may just stick with Option #1 (say goodbye to that  $30,000!)

Want to Go Deeper Down the Rabbit Hole

If I am the only geek in the room that gets excited about this stuff, then thank you for joining me for a tour inside how my brain works.  If you want to take a step deeper into how this stuff works, I made some videos on Price Relativity and how you can use it in your business.

Price Relativity Part #1

Price Relativity Part #2

Thanks again for reading through this!  I encourage you to start seeing these patterns in your daily life and then begin applying them to your business as quickly as possible!  Take care!

It was 2006 when word quickly spread across my campus that a new website called “The Facebook” was now available to Chapman University students.  I was still resisting the concept of MySpace, so I was very reluctant to sign up to this strange new site. (What the heck is a “poke” and why would I ever use it?!) At the time, Facebook was very selective and only certain university students could access the site.  Over five years and One Billion users later, a lot has changed, but one thing still remains…

“I have no clue how to MONETIZE Facebook!”

I have been on Facebook longer than 95% of the site’s current users, yet FB Ads, Fan Pages, FB Apps and other money-making elements are still completely foreign to me!  Now, don’t get me wrong: I have been able to create some extremely powerful (and lucrative!) relationships through Facebook, and it’s easy to share your latest blog posts, videos and webinar promos on Facebook.  My problem is that I have always seen Facebook as simply a place to connect with the friends and family that you don’t really want to make an effort to call on the phone (haha!) That is all going to change…

Amy Porterfield

Amy Porterfield, creator of FB Influence, is the leading Authority on showing business owners like you and I how to leverage this Billion-Member-Strong Website for SUCCESS!  Not only is Amy an incredible teacher and communicator of effective & cutting-edge strategies, she has the results and case studies to back it up!  She has even worked personally on the Facebook Marketing campaign for Anthony Robbins (no way!!) and co-wrote the “Facebook Marketing for Dummies” book!  (double no way!!)

Why I am SUPER EXCITED!

Ok, so I am pumped!!  As Amy gets ready to launch FB Influence, her Facebook Marketing training course, she has agreed to let me bring her on for an exclusive Webinar just with my audience!  (Note: She is only doing a live webinar with like two other people, so we should all feel very special!)

Because I still have SOOO much more to learn about Facebook, I am going to be drilling her with question after question on how EXACTLY we can profit from Facebook effectively.

Want to grow your list?

Build your brand?

Leverage FB Ads for more targeted traffic?

I know, so do I! This is just the tip of the ice burg baby!

Drop everything you are doing right this second and sign up below to reserve your spot for this very special, LIVE Webinar with Amy! (Note: This webinar WILL FILL OUT and people will be locked out!  Reserve your spot now, and show up five minutes early!)

LIVE WEBINAR: 7 Secrets to Facebook Marketing w/Amy Porterfield

When: This Tuesday, Nov. 29th @ 4pm PST
Where: http://www.JamesWedmore.com/fbwebinar

In this webinar, Amy reveals ALL, including…

• Super Fans: What They Are and Why You Need Them!
• The 3 biggest mistakes most people make on Facebook!
• 4 Smart Strategies to Grow a Lucrative Fan Base!
• Quick Tips to Get Your Fans Talking and Engaged!

Webinar Title: 7 Simple Strategies to Profit From Facebook Marketing
Date & Time: Tuesday, Nov. 29th @ 4pm PST (7pm EST)
Location: http://www.JamesWedmore.com/fbwebinar

“Be there or be square!”

A Small Taste of FB Influence…

As an added bonus for you guys, I also did an EXCLUSIVE, Laser-Focused (and no-fluff!) interview with Amy and I’ve added it below!

7 Reasons Why You Must Attend THIS Webinar

Considering that this will be the best webinar you ever attend, here are a few reasons why you must drop everything else you are doing to attend:

1. You have a business. (Or you’re ready to start one!)
2. You’re sick of fluff-filled presentations & webinars that don’t offer any real ACTIONABLE content!
3. You’re ready to Leverage Facebook the Right Way to grow your Business!
4. You want to actually profit from your Facebook Page and get more than 7 fans (like me!)
5. You like taking Massive Action and Seeing Massive Results!
6. You like it when clients come to you! (and not the other way around!)
7. You want to have the time of your life on a webinar that is gonna friggin’ rock!

Hey! Alright, those were some darn good reasons, right?!  Ok, that’s all ya need!  See ya on the call!

Webinar Title: 7 Simple Strategies to Profit From Facebook Marketing
Date & Time: Tuesday, Nov. 29th @ 4pm PST (7pm EST)
Location: http://www.JamesWedmore.com/fbwebinar

Are You Ready for FB Influence?!